Photo Contest

Joshua Tree Photo Contest

Leaning Joshua tree covered in snow with desert backdrop. — 2024 Photo Contest Winner: Snow Covered Landscape
Marsha Chan

2025: Joshua Tree National Park

We're excited to invite you to be part of our annual celebration of Joshua Tree National Park through photography! Whether you're capturing golden light over a boulder-filled landscape, a chance encounter with a curious jackrabbit, or the intricate beauty of a blooming cactus, we want to see the park through your lens.

This is more than just a photo contest. It’s a chance to showcase your unique perspective, connect with a passionate community of park lovers, and celebrate the magic of the parks diverse landscapes and lifeforms.

Selected entries will be featured on our official social media channels and viewed by thousands. Finalists will be chosen by public vote! So grab your camera, revisit your favorite shots, or plan your next photo adventure and show us what Joshua Tree National Park means to you.

Prize

The grand prize winner will have their photo featured on the official 2026 Joshua Tree National Park annual pass, a keepsake seen and used by thousands of visitors.

Once voting has determined the top five entries, our social media team will feature them on the official Joshua Tree National Park Instagram account, where followers will help choose the final winner.

How to Enter

Entries will be accepted from June 15 to July 15, 2025.
Submit your photo on Instagram using the hashtag #JTNPphoto2025.
Tag @joshuatreenps in your post.
Include a caption that provides context about your photo.
If your account is private, email your photo and caption to jotr_socialmedia@nps.gov.
The contest winner will be announced in August on our social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Be sure to review and follow the contest rules below.

Contest Rules

Photos must be taken within the boundary of Joshua Tree National Park.
Last year’s winning photo featured a rare snow-covered Joshua Tree scene, so this year we’re aiming to highlight a different perspective of the park. You’re still welcome to submit snow images — just keep in mind they’re less likely to be selected again.
The contest is open to all ages. Entrants under 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian. By entering, minors confirm they have received that permission.
Entries should reflect best practices for visiting public lands. Harassment of wildlife, picking vegetation, or engaging in any illegal activity is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification.
- Do not touch, feed, bait, or closely approach wildlife.
- All images must be family-friendly and consistent with park values.
Photos must be the original, unaltered work of the person submitting the entry. Minor edits such as light cropping, contrast, brightness, or dust removal are allowed.
- Heavily altered or manipulated photos will be disqualified.
- The park may request the original image file to verify authenticity.
Do not use Instagram’s built-in filters or editing tools for your contest submission.
Photos with watermarks, borders, or overlays will not be accepted.
Please avoid submitting photos with recognizable faces of people.
To qualify for the grand prize, your photo must be at least 6 megapixels (minimum 3072 x 2048 pixels).
By submitting, entrants confirm they are the sole copyright owner of the image and grant permission to the National Park Service and its partners to use the image for official purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, websites, publications, educational materials, social media, exhibits, or promotional use — without compensation.
Entrants agree to hold the National Park Service and its representatives harmless from all claims arising from their participation in the contest or use of submitted materials.
You may submit multiple entries.
If your photo is selected as a finalist or winner, you must be able to provide the highest-resolution version of the image via email.
Photos posted to Instagram before June 15th, 20245, will not be accepted.
- If you'd like to submit a photo taken before that date, simply re-upload it as a new post during the contest window.